Charred trees from a forest fire in the Whitewater-Baldy Complex in New Mexico dominate the landscape | image by Kari Greer

Wildfires ravage huge expanses of south-western US

Wildfires have destroyed a vast area of the Gila National Forest in New Mexico and have raged out of control in other parts of the south-west, including Arizona, Nevada and parts of California. Super-sized and highly destructive wildfires have become a regular occurrence in America, especially in the south-west, because of drought, climate change and human interference with the natural landscape. Fires combined in New Mexico to create the largest wildfire in the state’s history. [image via guardian.co.uk]

Olshany, Russia: Charred trees remain standing after wildfires passed through the area

photo by Sergei Ilnitsky